According to reports, a well-known Russian ballet performer who opposed Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine fell 60 feet to his death.
One of the best ballet dancers in the world, Vladimir Shklyarov, was 39 years old and had performed at the Royal Opera House in London and the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
His body was found beneath his home on Lieutenant Schmidt Embankment in St Petersburg, named after a hero of Russia’s 1905 revolution.
According to official news agency RIA Novosti, the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg did not disclose how Shklyarov had died, and the Russian Investigative Committee stated that the “preliminary cause of death was an accident” without providing a timeline of the events.
He had been jumping between two balconies on the fifth story of his apartment complex, according to a criminal news agency report.
This version, which has not been verified by law authorities, claimed that he was trying to get out of his apartment after his ex-wife, dancer Maria Shirinkina, had locked him there at his request to prevent him from purchasing narcotics.
According to the allegations, he had unidentified and undisclosed drug and alcohol addiction issues, but there are also accusations that this version is false and malicious.
The couple, who just went through a divorce, had a young daughter and son.
Igor Zelensky, 55, the former head of the Bavarian State Ballet and the second husband of the dictator’s daughter Katerina, 38, also known as Ekaterina, a high-kicking ‘rock’n’roll’ dancer, invited the famous worldwide talent to perform often in Munich.
Ballerina Irina Bartnovskaya seemed to contradict the addiction version when she described Shklyarov’s death as a “great tragedy” and scathingly criticised “speculation in the press.”
She provided an alternative version of his final moments, claiming that he was taking pain medication and getting ready for foot surgery at the time.
He fell five storeys in “a stupid, unbearable accident” while smoking on “a very narrow balcony.”
“He loved life, loved family, loved his children, and loved his audience,” she said.
It was also revealed he had written to his doctor shortly before his death, saying: ‘We have to operate. I am not ready, but there is no other way out. I can’t stand this pain.’
It is well known that Shklyarov delivered a forceful indictment of Putin’s intervention in Ukraine in 2022.
This was not the kind of man who would likely lose his footing.
A report claimed that he’d been leaping between two balconies on the fifth floor of his residential black. Someone clearly had a good sense of humour. After all, I’m sure he wasn’t practising for his next stage performance.
Sadly, there are too many versions of the same story. He was a beautiful dancer and this was so tragic, and if he had a bad foot, how was he prancing around on a rooftop?
Because of the numerous catastrophic events that have occurred, particularly after condemning Putin, individuals in Russia need to strengthen their health and safety protocols.
There is a small rule that states that you should not criticise the ruler of your nation, especially Russia, and does anyone else think it odd that nearly all of the people who criticise Putin seem to have a balance problem?
Yes, my friends, it’s that time of year again when the Russian advent calendar is out, but this time, when you open a window, an oligarch or the Poison Dwarf’s adversary appears instead of a chocolate candy.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 